Fire extinguisher for vehicles



y 1, 1958 R. F. PORTERFIELD 2,841,228 FIRE EXTiNGUISl-IER FOR VEHICLES Filed May 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

' 2 Robert F Par/erf/e/a' 37 F 3 INVENTOR.

lgs 9 BY 102 I04 WW KI-'41 R. F. PORTERFIELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR VEHICLES July 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1957 w v P F m n W e w w United States Patent 6 FIRE EXTINGUISHER FOR VEHICLES Robert F. Porterfielrl, Worsham, Va; Application May 28, 1957, Serial No. 662,059

Claims. (Cl. 169-2) This invention relates to fire extinguishers and more particularly to fire extinguishers for use in motor vehicles using internal combustion engines.

The possibility of fire is always present in motor vehicles which may be subjected to severe impact, as in the case of an accident, the fire usually originating in the internal combustion engine compartment of the vehicle.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a fire extinguisher which will upon an impact of predetermined magnitude automatically spray an internal combustion engine with extinguishing fluid and thereby substantially prevent the possibility of a serious fire.

Another object is to provide an entirely mechanical automatic fire extinguisher for motor vehicles which requires no electrical devices of any kind.

Another object is to provide an automatic fire extinguisher which requires very little space and can be easily removed and which will perform its intended function whether or not the car is in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fire extinguisher installed directly over the internal combustion engine wherein the increased pressure caused in the device by the heat of a fire makes the action of the extinguishing fluid more efiective.

A further object is to provide a device adapted to be mounted by brackets above the internal combustion engine and of such an inexpensive construction that it may be used as standard equipment on motor vehicles.

A still further object is to provide a device whereby an automatic fire extinguishing function is provided whether the occupants of a motor vehicle are conscious or not and which is both impact or thermally actuated. An important subordinate object of this invention resides in the provision of a fire extinguishing device, in accordance with the preceding objects, which shall be resiliently supported in a manner to prevent automatic operation of the extinguisher by shocks of less than a predetermined magnitude; and whereby the magnitude of shock required to actuate the device may be readily adjusted.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the motor vehicle showing a conventional internal combustion engine with the present invention mounted thereon, certain concealed parts being showntin section;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 4 and shows the container mounted within the impact actuated means of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6,6 of Figure 2 and shows one form of the novel venting mechanism;

Figure 7 is a detail view in vertical transverse section taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7--7 of Figure 2 and shows another form of the venting mechanism in elevation;

Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical transverse section upon the plane indicated by the section line 88 of Figure 4 and illustrates the novel thermally responsive venting mechanism of the device.

As shown in Figure 1, the fire extinguisher disclosed and claimed herein is mounted in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle and in good heat exchange relation with the engine, above and preferably upon the latter with the impact operated members of the device adjacent the radiation and the top of the engine compartment.v 'It will be seen that 10 generally designates the present mechanism which comprises a cylindrical container 12 having closed transverse end extremities 14 and 16 and which container is provided with a plurality of threaded openings 18. Nipples 20 are threaded into the openings 18 and are provided with shoulders 22, necks 24 and male threaded portions 26 and arefurther provided with internal openings 28 terminating in enlarged conical bores 30 within the male threaded portions 26 as may be seen in Figure 7 of the drawings.

A concave bell-shaped retaining member 32 provided with a central opening 34 is secured by thermally fusible material to the edge of shoulder 22. An elongated stem 36 is provided with a longitudinal passage 38 extending from one extremity inwardly towards the center thereof and the stem is further provided with an exterior circumferential groove 40 at a position along the stem encircling the-interior opening 28. The elongated stem 36 is inserted through the opening 34 in the concave retaining member 32 and thereafter inwardly through the opening 28 in the attaching member 20 wherein it is retained by a frictional fit.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 it will be seen that there are a plurality of venting assemblies extending on opposite sides of and normal to the longitudinal axis of the container. The four venting assemblies adjacent the extremities 14 and 16 of the container comprise each an elongated vent stem 37, similar to the stems 36 but having a threaded outward extremity hereinafter described.

vIn order to actuate the venting assemblies, a yoke 42 is provided with arms 44- and 46 embracing the container 12 in spaced relation thereto as shown in Figures 2 and 5. The arms 44 and 46 are provided with annular openings at positions along their length complementary to the openings in the container 12. The yoke 42 is provided with transverse portions 48 and 5t? bending inwardly and terminating with longitudinally disposed parallel arms 52 and 54. An impact actuator 58 is positioned and secured between legs 52 and 54 by means of pins 56 extending through the openings and is provided with a forwardly projecting longitudinally disposed impact boss '60 having an end cushioning pad 62 and is further provided with a vertically extending impact arm 64 extending upwardly perpendicular to arm 60 and is similarly provided with a cushioning pad 66. As shown in Figure 1, the pads 62 and 66 are positioned closely adjacent the radiator and with male threaded ends 68 which project through the legs 44 and 46 and are then secured with washer 70 and nut 72 and are further provided with resilient surrounding spring means 74 which retain the'legs'44 and 46 in positive spaced relation with the container 12 as is illustrated in Figures 2 and of the drawings. Thestems 37 include the vent passages 39 and the-exterior circumferentialgroove 41, this structure being identical with that of the stems 36. 7

Along the bottom cylindrical surface of the container 12 is provided a plurality of thermally responsivevent units 76 provided each with a shoulder 78' and a male member 80 which is threaded to complement a tapped opening through the container 12. The therma'llyresponsive units 76 are provided with an interior opening 82 extending from the interior of the tank tothe atmosphere with the end adjacent the atmosphere provided with a thermally responsive sealing material 84.

The present assembly is installed on a conventional internal combustion engine 86 found in a motor vehicle having a hood 88 and a radiator 90. Installation is effected by means of bracket 92 which encircles and engages the extremity of the container 12 and extends downwardly forming two depending legs 94 and 96 terminating in laterally disposed flanges 98 and 100 which are provided with suitably tapped openings 102 and 104. A similarly designed bracket 106 embraces the opposite extremity of the container 12 and is provided with depending legs 108 and 110 terminating in flanges 112 and 114 having suitable tapped openings. The present device is secured to the top of the internal combustion head 116 by bolts extending through the tapped openings 98 and 100, 112 and 114 and thereafter into the head 116.

In use, the present device has been horizontally installed on the head 116 of an internal combustion engine 86 with the impact arm 60 extending forwardly and terminating adjacent to the inner surface of the radiator 90. The upwardly extending impact arm 64 terminates adjacent the inner surface of the automobile hood 88.

If the normal travel of the vehicle is suddenly arrested, as occurs in an accident, by a force moving opposite to that-of the vehicle or a force overtaking the vehicle from behind, abrupt and forceful contact of the inner surface of the radiator 90 with the end of the impact arm 60will result in a sudden backward movement of theyoke arms 44 and 46 resulting in a simultaneouslyshearing of the elongated stems 36 and 37 at the circumferential grooves 40, 41 thereby communicating the interior of the tank 12 with the atmosphere through the interior openings '38, 39 of the stems. The extinguishing fluid which has "been confined under pressure within the container 12 is thereby allowed to escape and flood the space occupied by the internal combustion engine 86.

If the vehicle unintentionally leaves the road, and is overturned, the pressure of the inner surface of the hood 88 on the end of the impact arm 64 will result in a quick downward motion fracturing the venting assemblies at the circumferential grooves as previously described.

In instances where a fire occurs in the internal combustion engine 86 not caused by an abnormal force acting thereon the admission of the extinguishing fluid upon the top of the engine is eflfected by the thermally responsive units 76 positioned along the exterior bottom surface-of the container 12. The application of extreme heat upwardly against the thermally responsive members causes the fusible material to melt thereby permitting the extinguishing fluid within the container 12 to escape downwardly over the top surface of the engine. Further, it will be noted that the concave securing members 32 which are retained upon the shoulder 22 of the annular attaching member 20 by means of thermally fusible'material will upon the application of extremeheat thereto fall free thereof releasing the vents and enabling the extinguishing fluid within the container 12 to leave through the openings 28 in the annular attaching members 20.

Accordingly, it will be seen that there is provided both thermally responsive means and impact actuator means to provide an automatic fire extinguishing action upon an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

It is apparent that any suitable fire extinguishing fluid, which is employed under pressure, may be used in the container of the present invention.

The container 12 may be filled with extinguishing fluid through a tapped opening 19 and retained therein by filler nut 17, this filling means being preferably located at the end 16 of the container.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will'readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An automatic fire extinguisher, for vehicles having aninternal combustion engine, comprising a container of extinguishing fluid, said container provided with a plurality ofoutwa'rdly extending frangible venting members, mounting means for supporting said container in close proximity to an internal combustion engine, an impact actuated means operatively associated with said frangible venting members for rupturing the same therebypermitting the extinguishing fluid to escape from said container, said impact actuated means including a bar operatively connectedto said frangible connecting members.

2. An automatic fire extinguisher, for vehicles having an internal combustion engine, comprising a container of extinguishing fluid, said container provided with a plurality of outwardly extending frangible venting members, mounting means for supporting said container in close proximity to an internal combustion engine, an impact actuated means operatively associated with said frangible ventingmembers for rupturing the same thereby permittingthe extinguishing fluid to escape from said container, said impact actuated means including a yoke embracing saidcontainer and operatively connected to-said frangible venting members.

3. The structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said yoke retains said container in spaced relation thereto.

'4. The structure as recited in claim 3 wherein said yoke is provided with a longitudinally extending impact receivmg arm.

5. The structure as recited in claim 4 wherein said yoke is further provided with vertically extending impact'receivrng arm.

6. The structure as recited in claim 1 including resilient means operatively connected to said frangible venting members to retain said container in positive spaced relation to said yoke and thereby prevent accidental fracture of said frangible venting members.

7. The structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said container is further provided with a plurality of outwardly extending thermally fusible venting members each pro vided with an external circumferential groove thereby facilitating rupturing thereof.

'8. Thestructure recited in' claim 7 wherein said frangible venting members are each further provided with an internal'aperture extending from the interior of said container outwardly to a point beyond said external circumferential groove.

9. The structure as recitedin claim '8 including aplurality of annular attaching members'connected to said container each provided with an annular opening to receive saidfrangible venting members, a plurality of concave retaining members retaining saidfrangible venting members within said annular attaching members, said concave members secured to said annular attachingamember s by thermally fusible material-whereby theiformer are released I from engagement i with the latter when i the thermally fusible material is melted by intense heat thereby allowing said frangible venting members to fall outwardly releasing extinguishing fluid to the atmosphere.

10. In an automatic fire extinguisher of the type utilizing a container having an extinguishing fluid under pressure therein, an impact actuated venting assembly comprising an annular attaching member connected to said container and provided with an annular opening, a vent disposed within said annular attaching member and provided with an external circumferential groove and having an internal aperture intersecting the plane formed by said circumferential groove, and a concave retaining member provided with an annular opening to receive and retain said vent, said concave retaining member secured to the periphery of said annular attaching member by thermally fusible material whereby said vent will rupture along said circumferential groove upon sudden impacts against said vent and said vent and said annular attaching member will be released from said annular opening when said fusible material is exposed to a predetermined temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,747,674 Hodges May 29, 1956 

